Switch circuit controller



May 24, 1927; 1,629,998

0. s. FIELD SWITCH CIRCUI T CONTROLLER Filed Margh 4. -1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :2 i'lii? I W II I FF: lo

40 44 4a a 34 as a? as 24 45 o H 1 46 \C 56 f IL] I G 39 5a 57 4s 30 29 3| 33 INVENTOR 0 l BY @uwQW ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 0" s. FIELD SWITQH CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed March 1924 an .qk

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 24, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR S. FIELD, OF ROSELLE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO -THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SXVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

Application filed March 4, 1924. Serial No. 696,839.

This invention relates to improvements in switch circuit controllers.

It has been the practice heretofore to coin struct such instruments with cam operated contacts, the cam being operated by a crank with proper connections to the switch point. In practice it was found that this type of construction had many defects, such as a multiplicity of connections which, due to excessive vibration, would develop lost motion and would therefore, interfere with the correct functioning of the switch circuit controller.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device which will have a minimum number of operating connections, thereby eliminating as much as possible, the defect of lost motion. A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the contacts may be reliably operated with a. minimum movement of the operating rod connecting to the switch point. Another object is to provide means whereby the switch circuit controller contacts are mechanically operated in such a way that they must function in their proper sequence in accordance with the direction of movement of the switch and its operating rod. lVith these objects in view and the further objects which will appear -from the following description and appended claims, I will now describe the particular embodiments of the invention as disclosed in the drawings.

It will be readily understood that, while the drawings show a specific mode of construction of the apparatus, many modifications may be made in the design and the ar rangements of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan View of the switch circuit controller with part of the cover removed, showing the internal arrangement of the contacts and their operating mechanism.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the switch circuit controller.

Figure 3 is a section taken through the switch circuit controller along the axis or" the operating rod.

Figure at is a sectional detail of the end construction of the operating rod.

Referring to the drawings, a case 1 is provided which has apertures on either side 2 and 3 arranged to coincide with a depression or well at in the case, this well being provided with a central partition 5. The aperture 2 in the case is provided with a closed end piece 6 which has upper and lower grooved runways 7 and 8 respectively. Aperture 3 at the opposite side of the case 1 is provided with an end piece 9, fitted with a bushing 10 and sealing gasket 11, held in place by means of cover plate 12 and cap screws 1;.

An operating rod 1a is provided which has a threaded portion 15 at its outside end whereby suitable connections can be made to the switch point or other device which is intended to operate the switch circuit controller. This rod is of such diameter as to snugly fit the bushing 10 and at a point 15 is reduced in diameter in order to form an angular shoulder as-shown. The reduced diameter rod passes through a bearing 16 in the partition 5 and extends through the box to a point 17, at which the rod is again reduced in diameter and provided with an ad 'justing thread 18. An adjustable collar 19 is adapted to fit the thread 18 and. to slide over the intermediate portion of the operating rod as shown at 20 in Figure 4. The collar 19 has the same outside diameter as the operating rod at the point 14; and is formed with an angular shoulder at the end 21 in a similar manner to the rod at 15. It will be seen by this construction that an operating rod has been provided which has a certain diameter at this intermediate section and has an increased diameter at either end and it will be further apparent that the length of the intermediate portion of the rod may be changed by rotating the collar 19 on the thread 18, thereby bringing the shoulders 21 and 15 closer together or moving them farther apart in accordance with the direction of rotation of 19. A lock nut 22 is provided to lock the collar 19 in its tin-ally adjusted position. in order to prevent the operating rod from rotating, a pin 23 is passed through the end and is so arranged that it will slide in the grooves 7 and 8 of the member 6. The object of this is to preventthe possibility of rotation of the rod which would loosen the threaded connection 15 to the switch point or whatever apparatus it is connected to.

The case 1 further equipped with an insulating panel 24 mounted in a vertical position at its forward end by means of suitable screws and nuts 25. The panel is adapted to carry a set of stationary contacts 26 and two sets of movable contacts 27 and 28 respectively, the latter sets of contacts being flexibly supported on brackets 29 and 30, in such a manner that they may be moved backwards and forwards in relation to one another and in relation to the fixed contacts 26. The movable contacts 27 and 28 are bridged by means of operating bars 31 and 32 but suitably insulated therefrom by insulations 33 and 34 respectively. With this construction it will be seen that the respective groups of contacts are mechanically connected so that they can be operated in, unison.

()perating members 35 and 36 are provided and are pivotally mounted in the case 1 on a shaft 37 carried by lugs 38. Each of the members 35 and 36 are provided with a roller 39 arranged to be in operable engagement with the operating rod 14. The upper ends of members 35 and 36 are provided with adjusting studs 40 and 41 which are threaded therein and are provided with slots to take connecting links 42 and 43 respectively. These connecting links 42 and 43 are operabl connected to the operating bars 31 and 32 in such a manner that motion is transmitted from members 35 and 36 to the movable contacts 28 and 27 respectively. From this construction it will be seen that by removing the pin 44, the members 41 and 42 can be rotated which will cause them to move backwards or forwards and provides means for adjusting the relative position of the operating members to their respective movable contacts.

In order to properly check the operation of the contacts, a rocking arm 45 is pivotally mounted on a stud 46 carried by the case 1. This rocker 45 has an extension 47 at one end which is adapted to engage with the surface 48 of member 35. The other end of the rocker member is provided with an adjustable stud 49 and a suitable lock nut 50 whereby under certain conditions the stud may be caused to engage with the surface 51 of member 36. The spring 52 is provided to take up lost motion in the rocker device when both the members 35 and 36 are in the downward position as shown in Figure 3.

The operation of the device above described is as follows:

Normally, when the switch point is closed, the operating rod 14 will be forced to its extreme left hand position when referring to Figure 3. Under these conditions, the large diameter of the operating rod 14 has passed under the roller 39 and member 36 and has forced the roller upward. This will rotate member 36 about its pivot 37 and will cause the contacts 27 to be forced forward by means of their link connection 43 to member 36 and will therefore, close a circuit between contacts 27 and 26 respectively. This is the normal condition of the switch circuit controller when applied to a railroad. switch point. 1

It will further be seen that under these conditions, the stud 49 will be in engagement with the surface 51 of member 36. When the rod 14 is caused to move to the right by operation of the switch, the roller 39 of member 36 will drop off the large portion of the operating rod onto the smaller diameter and will allow the contacts 27 to move back to the position shown in Figure 2, thereby leaving all contacts in the open position.

Upon further moven'ient of the operatingrod, the collar 19 will eventually pass under roller 39 of member This will force roller 39 upward and cause the member 35 to operate its contacts 28 in a similar manner as heretofore described in the case of member 36. 'lhis will bring the contacts 28 into the intimate relation with the contacts 27, thereby closing a different set of circuits.

It will further be seen upon the movement of member 35, that the rocker arm 45 will be tipped until its stud 49 is again brought into engagement with they member 36. The object of the rocker arm 45 is to insure that upon the operation of eithermember 35 or 36 that the other member will be returned to its neutral position. It will be seen that should member 36 have been operated, and that upon a reverse operation the member 36 should stick up, upon operation of member 35, rocker arm 45 will be tilted and will mechanically force the member 36 back to its neutral position, thereby insuring proper operation of the contacts at all times. The case 1 may be provided with the usual cover 53 to protect the parts from water and dirt and to allow proper inspection of the apparatus.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have provided a switch circuit controller which will function by means of a. direct mechanical connection to the switch, thereby eliminating the possibility of lost motion in this connection and also, means whereby every small initial movement of the switch will cause an operation of the contacts, therebly obtaining extreme sensitiveness to trac conditions.

What I claim is 1. In a switch circuit controller, a case, an insulating contact carrying member mounted in said case, contacts carried by said insulating member, .some of which are fixed and others of which are movable, a sliding member passing through said case for the operation of said movable contacts, means whereby. upon movement of said slidin member the movable contacts are operate and means whereby certain of said contacts cannot be operated unless others of said con tacts have properly functioned.

2. A switch circuit controller comprising a case, an insulating contact carrying member in said case, contacts carried by said insulating member, some of which are fixed and others of which are movable, a sliding member for operating said contacts, rocker arms provided with rollers adapted to engage said sliding member, means for mechanically connecting said rocker arms to said movable contacts, formations on said sliding member whereby upon movement of the same said rocker arms are caused to operate the contacts selectively in accordance with the direction of movement of the sliding member and means whereby said contacts can not be operated unless others of said contacts have properly functioned.

3. A switch circuit controller comprising a case, an insulating contact carrying member in said case, contacts carried by said insulating member, some of which are fixed and others of which are movable, a sliding member for operating said contacts, rocker arms provided with rollers adapted to en gage said sliding member, means for mech anically connecting said .TOCkeI' arms to said movable contacts, formations on said sliding member whereby upon movement of the same said rocker arms are selectively operated to control the contacts, and an interconnecting member between the rocker arms, whereby one arm cannot be operated unless the other arm has properly returned to its initial position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

OSCAR S. FIELD. 

